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Gujarat emerges as major horticulture hub
India
Thursday 29 May 2008
Reputed for being one of the fast growing industrialised states of the country, Gujarat is striving to become the horticulture hub. While the state has witnessed a two-fold increase in the land allotted as well the production through horticulture, the state government intends to bring about 20 million hectare of wasteland under horticulture.
In terms of production and productivity of certain fruit and vegetables, Gujarat is leading the charts. Influx of new technology in agriculture sector coupled with export facilities for horticulture produce has created enormous opportunities of growth for horticulture industry.
For nine years, Gujarat has witnessed a growth rate of 10.5%. In 1998-99, the land under horticulture cultivation was 590 thousand hectares, which increased to 1.120,000 hectares in 2006-07. Similarly, with an average growth rate of 14.4%, the production of horticulture crops has risen from 5.9 million tons in 1998-99 to 12.1 million tons in 2006-07.
“Gujarat is an ideal place for production of horticulture crops. Prevalence of eight climatic zones has ensured variety of crops,” says deputy horticulture director Anil Patel, adding “Gujarat has 2 million hectares of wasteland which can be used for irrigation purpose and majority of it can be utilised for horticulture purpose.”
Basic infrastructural facilities like roads, railways and airports have facilitated the movement of horticulture crops. Apart from fruit and vegetables, which are amongst horticulture crops in state, flowers and medicinal plants are also sown. As per statistics of 2005-06 by the National Horticulture Board, Gujarat accounts for 21% of chikoo, 20% of onion, 17% for lemon, 14% for papaya and 13% for banana out of total horticulture crop production of the country.
In terms of productivity, onion and potato are the best in the country whereas banana is second followed by mango, tomato in the third position and guava, lemon and papaya at the fourth spot.
In terms of production and productivity of certain fruit and vegetables, Gujarat is leading the charts. Influx of new technology in agriculture sector coupled with export facilities for horticulture produce has created enormous opportunities of growth for horticulture industry.
For nine years, Gujarat has witnessed a growth rate of 10.5%. In 1998-99, the land under horticulture cultivation was 590 thousand hectares, which increased to 1.120,000 hectares in 2006-07. Similarly, with an average growth rate of 14.4%, the production of horticulture crops has risen from 5.9 million tons in 1998-99 to 12.1 million tons in 2006-07.
“Gujarat is an ideal place for production of horticulture crops. Prevalence of eight climatic zones has ensured variety of crops,” says deputy horticulture director Anil Patel, adding “Gujarat has 2 million hectares of wasteland which can be used for irrigation purpose and majority of it can be utilised for horticulture purpose.”
Basic infrastructural facilities like roads, railways and airports have facilitated the movement of horticulture crops. Apart from fruit and vegetables, which are amongst horticulture crops in state, flowers and medicinal plants are also sown. As per statistics of 2005-06 by the National Horticulture Board, Gujarat accounts for 21% of chikoo, 20% of onion, 17% for lemon, 14% for papaya and 13% for banana out of total horticulture crop production of the country.
In terms of productivity, onion and potato are the best in the country whereas banana is second followed by mango, tomato in the third position and guava, lemon and papaya at the fourth spot.
